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The IOWA
LION
July/August 2020 iowalions.org
Council Chair
Judy Stone
9EC District Governor 9SW District Governor
MD9
Stan Stanfield Sheri Holliday
2020-2021
Council of Governors
9MC District Governor 9SE District Governor
Vacant at Press Time Bryan Bross
9NC District Governor 9NW District Governor
Darwin Meyer Roger Curtis
9NE District Governor
Richard Congdon
BOUNTIFUL BASKETS. Exira-EHK Leadership Leos helped distribute Bountiful Baskets in July. Pictured from left to
right are Leos Mollie Rasmussen, Tatum Grubbs, Ashley Hansen, Shay Burmeister, Quinn Grubbs, Kate Hansen and
Exira Lion Katie Wheeler, who coordinates the Bountiful Baskets food co-op program in Exira.
THE IOWA LION
VOLUME 56 - NO. 1
JULY/AUGUST 2020
Published by the Lions of Iowa
(U.S. Postal Service ISSN Number 0162-3834)
Official publication of the Lions Clubs of Iowa, 2300 South Duff, Ames, Iowa,
50010. Published monthly except bi-monthly July-August and December-
January issues. Subscription fee $5.66 per year to members; $6.66 per year to
Aug. 22 Oskaloosa Lions Golf Shootout non-members. Periodicals postage paid at Iowa Falls, Iowa 50126.
DG Debbie Doty, Editor
Sept. 12 Dysart Backroads Boho Market 309 A Ave. East
Oskaloosa, Iowa 52577
NEW DATE
Phone: (641) 673-4173
October Vision Awareness Month E-mail: editor@iowalions.org
Copy should be to the editor by the tenth of the month to be considered
Oct. 2 Cedar Rapids Noon Lions 100th
for publication in the issue of one month later. MATERIAL INTENDED
Anniversary Celebration update FOR DISTRICT NEWS PAGES needs to be in the hands of the District
Oct. 9-10 MD9 Special Convention, Governors or District News Editors prior to that time, according to their
deadlines.
Marshalltown
Advertising that is relevant to Iowa Lions Clubs is accepted. Contact the Editor
Oct. 15 White Cane Safety Day for rates information.
Oct. 16-17 9SW District Convention, All changes of address and other correspondence concerning
SUBSCRIPTIONS should be directed to: Lions of Iowa State Office,
Waukee
2300 South Duff, Ames, Iowa 50010. Telephone: (515) 232-2215;
Nov. 7 9EC Fall Rally, location TBA Fax: (515) 232-5590; E-mail: info@iowalions.org.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:
Nov. 13-14 9SE District Convention, THE IOWA LION
Burlington 2300 South Duff, Ames, Iowa 50010
Tel. (515) 232-2215
Nov. 14 World Diabetes Day
July/August 2020…THE IOWA LION…Page 2
will be virtual as well.
International Report In addition, First International Vice President
Past International Director Douglas Alexander has asked me to be one of his
Ardie Klemish District Governor-Elect Group Leaders.
P.O. Box 175 International Guest Speakers for 2020-21
Anita, Iowa 50020
641-740-0148 MD9 Events
ardieklemish@gmail.com International speakers are lined up for all 2020-21
MD9 events, including the state convention and the
seven district conventions. A current international
director will speak at each convention except for two,
which are scheduled during an international board
meeting. They will have a past international director.
Celebrate the Strength of Your Club
with an International Award
The Club Excellence Award is presented to any
Lions club who has exhibited strength from July 1, 2019
through June 30, 2020 in four categories:
News from 2020 Virtual June 1. Membership: achieve a NET growth OR
International Board Meeting sponsored a new Lions or Leo club or club branch;
To support the incredible Lions around the globe, 2. Service: started a new service project AND made
the international board passed these resolutions to help a contribution to LCIF (club and/or personal donation);
clubs: All entrance fees are waived from July 1 through Service activities MUST have been reported on MyLion
December 31, 2020: no charter entrance fees, no fee to during the Lion year.
join an existing club, no fee to transfer clubs. Flexible
3. Organizational Excellence: club is in good
payments: no clubs will be suspended or cancelled
standing (no unpaid balance to LCI) AND officers
through December 31, 2020 for late payment of dues.
participated in some type of training (in person or
Due to the cancellation of the 103rd Lions Clubs virtual) AND improved club operations;
International Convention in Singapore, there was no
4. Marketing and Communication: the club has
election held, so all executive officers and international
publicized service activities through local and social
directors will continue to serve through June 29, 2021.
media.
The only change on the 2020-2021 international board
is two new Leo-Lion liaisons: Aayush Bagla from India The 2019-2020 Club Excellence Award Application
and Juan Manuel Caceres from Uraguay. The board deadline is Aug. 31, 2020. The 2019-2020 district
voted to award Singapore as the site for the 2028 LCI governor’s signature is required on the application
convention. form. Fax the completed form to 630-468-6828 or
email it to clubexcellenceaward@lionsclubs.org. Find
My New Lions Clubs International the application form at the LCI website by typing “Club
Assignments for 2020-21 Excellence Award Application” in the search box.
Questions? Contact your district governor or district
I was elected to the Lions Clubs International
leadership coordinator.
Foundation Board of Trustees, representing
Constitutional Area 1 (USA) for a one year term. The
LCIF board consists of five executive officers, 15
Resources for 2020-2021 Club Officers
trustees representing each of the constitutional areas LCI has plenty of resources available for
and two board appointees. I’ll be serving on the LCIF you online. Go to the LCI website, click on the
Development Committee. magnifying glass (search box) and type in “Managing
A Club.” Dozens of resources will pop up, including
Our LCIF trustee meetings are held three times a
E-books for each officer position that are full of great
year, usually at international headquarters. This year due
resources, plus countless other tools to help you do
to COVID-19, they will probably be virtual, just like the
your job and make your club stronger!
international board meetings. The new trustee training
July/August 2020…THE IOWA LION…Page 3
and up. Then create a poster with all your sponsors
A View names on it that can be displayed at your events
from the Chair letting the community know what businesses
Council Chair Judy Stone supported you. Make a point of asking your
2540 180th St. members to frequent those businesses.
Marshalltown, Iowa 50148
641-328-0270
Keep Lions Clubs visible by continuing to serve
jstone4254@live.com your community through projects that do not cost
the club money. Look for opportunities like Meals
I want to start out by congratulating our new on Wheels deliveries, volunteering at food pantries,
district governors on their elections. I am excited to running errands for those who cannot come out
see all the success you have in this coming Lions right now, cleaning up roadsides or parks. It lets
year. You all have talented people on your teams. your community know that you are still serving.
It is the beginning of our 2020-2021 Lions year You might have to resort to the good old-
and we have some really cool things coming up fashioned car wash where patrons stay in their cars.
for you. But first, let us address our recent past Consider a roadside collection day handing out
and current situations. We are still living with Lions Mints for donations like the veterans do with
COVID-19. Many have not held a club meeting in poppies or firemen do with the boots. Be sure to get
some time, some have met online and then some community leaders approval for this one.
have been reaching out to club members with phone Remember, where there is a will, there is a way.
calls. If any of you have questions about how to At 103 years old, our organization has survived
meet online, reach out to your district governors. many life altering moments. We will survive this
They can provide you with the means to get this too. We just need to get creative!
done or put you in touch with someone in your Now, the plan for this year. Let us talk
district that can help. Please continue to make every about NAMI, or North America Membership
effort to reach out to each other and meet those Initiative. Did you know that for the last 40 years
needs that you can. Constitutional Area 1 (United States and affiliates,
Now on to a tough topic. Many clubs have lost Bermuda and Bahamas) and CA2 (Canada) have
their major fundraisers due to cancellations. How do ended every year with a minus in membership? At
we make up for those lost dollars? Here are a few one time, there were 18,000 Lions in Iowa. Today
suggestions I have run across that have worked for we have approximately 7,800 Lions.
other Lions clubs in other multiple districts. NAMI covers three areas of focus: new members
Corporate sponsorships: Think of those in existing clubs, retention of current members
businesses that have helped you out in the past or and adding new clubs in all districts. Each district
that you have done business with. Put together a has named a NAMI champion who will lead the
sponsorship letter describing what your club does charge in accomplishing these three goals. If you
in your community and that due to the current have questions or see yourself helping in this
cancellations for fundraisers, you are trying membership effort, please contact your district
something new. Ask them to buy into what and how governor.
you support your community. In closing, I wish all of you a great Lions year.
You can let businesses define how much or you If I can be of any help or answer questions, just
can set levels of support. For example, a bronze reach out. Remember, WE SERVE in Kindness and
sponsorship is $100 and below, silver sponsorship Diversity.
is $101 to $500 and a gold sponsorship is $501
July/August 2020…THE IOWA LION…Page 4
Just Ask to Get Growing
By PDG Doug Welton
MD9 Global Membership Team Coordinator
The position of Global Membership Team
Coordinator has changed as of the 2020-2021 year
to be a one-year term. This year the Council of
Governors has approved me, PDG Doug Welton
from 9NE, to serve the members of Multiple
District 9 as the GMT.
It is my honor to serve in this capacity for you. I
believe it is the responsibility of the GMT to assist
districts and clubs to grow in membership. The
motto of Lions is “We Serve” but without members
it is very hard to live up to this motto.
All districts need to have a person that is willing a difference in the world. Lions don’t face that
to work with the membership chairperson from problem.” We need to share these thoughts.
each club to make the clubs grow. Each club needs
to have a person in the club that is committed As members of Lions, we need to just ASK and
to making the club grow, which would be the invite people to join us in our mission of serving our
membership chair for that club. The membership fellow man.
chair is the person that can work with each club When I have been starting a new club and
member to help them make the club grow, because inviting people to become a Lion, I use the slogan
it is the responsibility of each member to make that Lions means “Local Individual Offering
Lions a successful program in their respective Neighbors Service.” To me that is what we are
communities. doing, putting a group of community people
We all know that if we are not open to new ideas together to serve the people of their community.
and new members, the program or clubs will not The Lions organization gives a structure for the
survive. If the same people are always doing the group and a well-known name to use, as well as
same things, the serving will take a toll on them and many resources and support to succeed.
the club will die. I will do whatever I can to help us This year Lions Clubs International has a new
all succeed. program to increase the membership in North
Lions is an organization that you need to be America. The program is called NAMI (North
asked to join. Each member needs to be asking America Membership Initiative) and the goal is
people to join their club, to share in what we have to to start over two hundred new clubs. MD9 has a
offer. plan and goals on how we will participate in this
program and with the help from each member;
Melvin Jones stated: “You can’t get very far until each district will meet the goals that the district
you start doing something for someone else.” We governors have determined. Their goals are what
each need to be asking ourselves just why we joined were used to determine the MD9 NAMI goals.
and what we have gotten from our membership. We
should be willing to share this with others. The bottom line for growth in clubs, districts and
North America is that each member needs to make
There is also a saying that states: “Some people an effort to help by asking others to join our Lions
live an entire lifetime wondering if they’ve made organization. It is up to us all to get the job done!
July/August 2020…THE IOWA LION…Page 5
The Year of Communication
By Mark Miller Communication.”
Iowa Lions Foundation President EXECUTIVE BOARD
Greetings, my name is Mark Miller and I am President Lion Mark Miller
your Iowa Lions Foundation president for 2020- Vice President PDG Glenn Markley
2021. I am a member of the Cedar Falls Noon
Executive Secretary PID Gary Fry
Lions Club and have been a Lion for 16 years.
I take pride in the fact that we can serve others Treasurer PDG Tim Wilson
in our communities and worldwide and have TRUSTEES
fun doing that while meeting and making new
9EC Lion Phil Larabee, Monticello
friends along the way.
9MC Lion Steve Halstead, Bondurant,
This will be a year where all of us will have
9MC Lion John Kerber, Johnston
to be better at communicating. This will be
very important not only for Lions in leadership 9NC PDG Lisa Prochaska, Clear Lake
but every Lion in Iowa! With COVID-19 still 9NC Lion Marian Gerhls, Iowa Falls
among us, we will not be able to visit clubs 9NE Lion Dennis Litterer, Nashua
at times, have in-person club meetings, nor 9NE Lion Chris Waring, Jesup
hold some of our service projects that raise the
9NW PDG Glenn Markley Rolfe
funds that we donate back to our communities
and to the Iowa Lions Foundation. It is so very 9NW PDG Dale Schoening, Madrid
important that we find new ways to stay in 9SE PDG David McGregor, New London
touch with our members and to respond to all 9SE PDG Nancy Slack, Melcher-Dallas
forms of communication. 9SW Lion Greg Schuler, Atlantic
I want to thank our past board and President 9SW Lion Christopher Wilkins, Murray
Bill Shutters for their past service and
leadership during a very tough year and I We have started our budget process and will
would like to introduce you to our incoming soon meet to approve our 2020-2021 budget.
board. They are Great Lions! Please welcome We have had to make some tough decisions and
them and respond to their outreach as we work make some budget adjustments going into this
through this year. Remember! It is “The Year of year. However, there is a way for all clubs and
members to help with a revenue shortfall this
year and into the future. Trustee Phil Larabee
The POWER of 9EC has created a “Power of 300” program
3 0
where clubs and individual members can join
an elite group of 300 Lions! Please read the
companion article on Page 22 in the June issue
of The Iowa Lion.
In the next issue of The Iowa Lion, we will
go over each of the entities that all Iowa Lions
support through the Iowa Lions Foundation.
presented to
July/August 2020…THE IOWA LION…Page 6
Guidelines
Guidelines forforvision
visionscreening
screening
wewe
as as livelive
with
withCOVID-19
COVID-19
July
July 6, 6, 2020
2020
CDC
CDC (Centers
(Centers for Disease
for Disease Control
Control andand Prevention)
Prevention)
KnowKnow these
these guidelines,
guidelines, follow
follow theseguidelines.
these guidelines.
Wear aWear
mask.a mask.
SocialSocial distance.
distance. WashWash
youryour hands
hands often.Don’t
often. Don’ttouch
touchyour
yourface.
face.
Review all of the facts about Coronavirus at this website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
Review all of the facts about Coronavirus at this website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
Screening
Screening Sites
Sites
The rules at our screening sites apply to us too.
The rules atactivities
Screening our screening sites
going forward will apply
greatly to us by
be determined too.
the rules at the sites where we extend screenings.
Screening
Sitesactivities
where wegoing forward
typically screen,will greatly
e.g., be determined
daycares, by the rules
preschools, elementary at themay
schools, sitesorwhere webe
may not extend screenings.
allowing visitors.*
Sites where we typically screen, e.g., daycares, preschools, elementary schools, may or may not be allowing visitors.*
Circumstances may vary from site-to-site, and from day-to-day, throughout our Iowa communities.
Guidelinesmay
Circumstances for childcare
vary fromprograms and and
site-to-site, schools
fromcanday-to-day,
be found onthroughout
the Iowa Department of Public Health website:
our Iowa communities.
https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus/Guidance.
Guidelines for childcare programs and schools can be found on the Iowa Department of Public Health website:
https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus/Guidance.
Iowa KidSight-Specific
Iowa KidSight-Specific
We must remain flexible and accept change.
Circumstances may rapidly change, right down to the minute that a screening session was scheduled to begin.
We must remain flexible and accept change.
Limit screening teams to no more than two people.
Circumstances may
No stickers for rapidly change,
the children right down
as rewards at thisto the minute that a screening session was scheduled to begin.
time.
Limit screening teams to
School personnel no more
should escortthan two people.
children. No physical contact (this includes high fives/elbow bumps, etc.).
No stickers
Wear for the children
a mask at all timesas(non-negotiable).
rewards at this time.Face shields encouraged.
School*Screening
personnelCover
should escort
Sheets children.
have No physical
been updated contact
to include a line(this
for includes high
the person’s fives/elbow
name bumps,
who invited you oretc.).
approved
Wear ayou to conduct
mask vision
at all times screenings at theirFace
(non-negotiable). site. shields
Current encouraged.
forms are available on the website: www.IowaKidSight.org.
Stay informed
*Screening through
Cover Sheets havethebeen
website: www.IowaKidSight.org.
updated to include a line for the person’s name who invited you or approved
you to conduct vision screenings at their site. Current forms are available on the website: www.IowaKidSight.org.
You
Stay informed through the website: www.IowaKidSight.org.
You
Iowa KidSight Screeners
If you have any symptoms of being ill, reschedule screening sessions for another time. No coughs (non-negotiable).
If you are not comfortable extending vision screenings, don’t.
IowaIf KidSight Screeners
you are in a high-risk category for COVID and typically do the vision screening on behalf of your Lions Club, ask for
If you have
help atanythissymptoms
time, eitherofwithin
beingyour
ill, reschedule screening
Lions Club, or sessions
with a new recruit,for another
or with time. NoLions
a neighboring coughs (non-negotiable).
Club, or contact the
If you are
Iowanot comfortable
KidSight extending vision screenings,
office: KidSight@uiowa.edu don’t. Vision screenings may have to be postponed for a while
or 319-353-7616.
If you are in ainhigh-risk
longer category for COVID and typically do the vision screening on behalf of your Lions Club, ask for
some circumstances.
Thank you
help at this time, either within your Lions Club, or with a new recruit, or with a neighboring Lions Club, or contact the
for doing your part to help curb the spread,
Iowa KidSight office: KidSight@uiowa.edu or 319-353-7616. Vision screenings may have to be postponed for a while
while keeping yourself and others safe, while we work to carry out our mission!
longer in some circumstances.
Thank you for doing your part to help curb the spread,
while keeping yourself and others safe, while we work to carry out our mission!
July/August 2020…THE IOWA LION…Page 7
and childhood cancer.
District 9NC Youth is part of every one of our core values.
District Governor How do we engage our youth in our communities
Darwin Meyer
in helping people lead a better life? Do you have a
319 Maple St.
LEO club in your school district?
Sheffield, Iowa 50475
641-580-4067 Report Your Club Activities
dlmeyer@frontiernet.net
If your club secretaries are not reporting your
activities or membership information or are
Welcome to a new year in Lions. Here I am, having trouble doing so, please contact me and
back as your 9NC district governor for 2020- we will get you help. My contact information can
2021. My picture is one I had on my phone be found near my photo at the beginning of this
before I received my new Lions apparel. What an page.
interesting and challenging time we are in. This
Let’s make this a successful and meaningful
Covid 19 situation has changed the way we live,
year in 9NC. We already have our Spring
work and socialize.
Convention date set for April 3, 2021.
As I write this, I am reminded of the times our
Our new Peace Poster theme this year is
founder Melvin Jones lived through and what life
“Peace Through Service.” Kits need to be ordered
was like when he formed Lions Clubs in 1917.
from Lions Clubs International by Oct. 1. Need
World War I was going on from July 28, 1914 to
help, give Linda Reed from Ackley-Geneva a call
November 11, 1918. The Spanish Flu Pandemic
at 641-847-3227.
hit in 1918-1919. Did he give up? No, he kept his
idea alive and the word spread about what people Our new first vice district governor is Stanley
could do to help their fellow man live a better life Johnson from the New Hartford Club. His contact
by joining together and forming Lions clubs here info is: Stanley Johnson, 32697 Terrace Ave.,
in the US and around the world. New Hartford, IA 50660; phone 319-240-2211;
and email stanpjohnson@gmail.com.
We all know that Helen Keller came to the
Lions Clubs International Convention in 1925 and
challenged Lions to become “Knights of the blind Welcome to District 9NC
in the crusade against darkness.” NEW MEMBERS
I challenge all of our clubs in 9NC to look at Club Member Sponsor
our communities and see what the needs are. Do Mason City Eve. Michelle Skarpness Darwin Meyer
you have people who are in need of eyeglasses
and hearing aids?
In Memoriam
I saw a post on Facebook that I am researching,
about a new kind of glasses that let color blind
people see colors. It is a truly amazing new piece
of technology. I posted it on my Facebook page. Lion — Club — Years a Lion
Are people in need of food? Do you have Arnold Schaap — Ackley-Geneva — 22 years
a community food pantry? Do people need to Marvin Miller — Algona — 33 years
have groceries bought and delivered to them? John Lundberg — Mason City — 47 years
Do people need someone to take them to doctors
appointments? Marjorie Osier — Rowan — 20 years
Remember our Lions clubs global areas of George Hagaman — Stanhope — 29 years
service are vision, hunger, environment, diabetes,
July/August 2020…THE IOWA LION…Page 8
Just ask!
Quick tips for effectively recruiting new members
1 Prepare Your Club.
Without proper preparation, your club’s recruitment efforts will not be as effective as possible.
» Decide what your club would like to accomplish and how new members will help achieve this.
» Develop a member recruitment team that can focus on all aspects of member recruitment.
2 Create your club’s growth plan.
Develop an action-oriented plan that clearly outlines your recruitment efforts.
» Determine who you will be recruiting.
» Determine where you will focus your recruiting efforts.
» Gather the materials you will need for your outreach.
» Set and promote your informational meeting.
3 Implement your growth plan.
» Reach out to target members as outlined in steps one and two.
» Host your informational meeting.
» Follow up with meeting attendees.
» Review your growth plan and adjust timelines if necessary.
4 Welcome new members.
» Conduct an induction ceremony.
» Ensure that new members are properly onboarded.
Don’t forget to get your
new members involved!
People join Lions Clubs International to
serve—make sure that your new members
are involved in ways that align with the
reasons they joined your club.
For details on each of these steps, as well as additional tools and resources your club can use for successful member
recruitment, download the complete Just Ask! New Member Recruiting Guide from the Resource Center at lionsclubs.org.
lionsclubs.org 01/19 EN
July/August 2020…THE IOWA LION…Page 9
Clubs International Foundation.
District 9NE It is only fitting, then, that I am adopting as my
District Governor theme for this year, “LIONS POKING HOLES IN
Richard Congdon DARKNESS.”
5231 Sweet Basile Ln.
Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613 3-Year Plan
319-240-1154 Your district officer teams want to hear your
rjcong@cfu.net stories of service in your community. Please send
them with pictures and captions of Lions’ names to
me, your district governor. Your District Governor
Lions Poking Holes in Darkness Team has developed a 3-year plan that addresses
When Robert Louis Stevenson was a young lad membership, service, leadership, communication,
of about 12 years old, he was sitting in his upstairs and recognition. We are so excited about our plan
room looking out the window. He was waiting to be that we put it in writing. Cabinet members have all
called for supper when he noticed the lamplighter received a copy. Club presidents, officers and any
going down the street lighting all the streetlamps. Lion can download a copy from our district website
His Mother bust into his room and said, or contact me or any member of the cabinet for a
“ROBERT! I have been calling you! Why are you copy.
not coming for your supper?” “M” Squad
He said, “Mother, come here quick and look out The success of your club is so very important
the window and tell me what you see.” to your district that we have created the “M”
She did and said,” I see the lamplighter lighting squad to help your club achieve success. The “M”
lamps.” squad is a group of Lions who come from varying
He said, “No, Mother, the lamplighter is poking backgrounds that have agreed to work with your
holes in darkness.” club on any matter to help you achieve success.
Your club can call the governor, VDGs or your
Thinking about the lamplighter story it struck me zone chair and request help. These lions will listen
that DARKNESS comes in many forms: to your needs, offer a plan to help your club and
When you can’t see. if need be we will send the team to your club. Our
When you can’t hear. VDGs maintain a data base of suggestions for
membership, service, leadership, and help telling
When you don’t know where your next meal
your stories. Your zone chairs will also alert me of a
is coming from.
potential need for help.
Where you will sleep tonight.
When you are not sure if your drinking water
is safe.
Anxiety of a recent diagnoses of diabetes.
Dispair and worry over a child that has
cancer.
As I consider this darkness, I realize this is what
LIONS IN SERVICE is all about. WE do this.
This gives real meaning to Lions being the world’s
largest non-profit service organization.
As LIONS we are addressing each of these
darknesses. We do it through our local clubs, our PLANTING SEASON. Cedar Falls Lions Sandra Glenn
district, state, and most certainly, through the Lions and Rita Congdon plant fresh vegetables in a community
garden.
July/August 2020…THE IOWA LION…Page 10Even Through the Pandemic,
CLUB ACTIVITIES
CEDAR FALLS assisted the Hearst Center for the
Welcome New Members
Arts in spreading mulch throughout their gardens
Club Member and painting an outdoor bench for outside activities
Belle Plaine Gage G Kensler to resume soon. They also provided cars and
drivers for a drive-by for two retiring teachers.
Dubuque Noon Karin L Stephenson
Throughout the month 24 volunteers tended a
Hudson Dustin Thorne garden of fresh vegetables for education and use
by diabetics, pictured below.
A Celebration of Achievement
The Lamplighter Award
Service and membership go together. People
want to help others and what better place
than LIONS Clubs. Your stories of service
activities will not go unnoticed. We will have
a “CELEBRATION OF ACHIEVEMENT” on
April 16 & 17 in Cedar Falls. Each club will
select one outstanding service project to present
to the meeting. Your GAT has established “The
Lamplighter Award.” Clubs can all achieve this
status by completing a list of goals. Your VDG’s
and I will tell you more during our club visits.
Service does not need to stop because we cannot CEDAR VALLEY EVENING cut weeds and brush
meet; needs in your community are ongoing. from a fence in Lookout Park in Cedar Falls.
Please tell me your stories. Pictured here are Lions Pictured below are District Governor Richard
working in the Cedar Falls Lions Diabetes Learning Congdon, Immediate Past District Governor Doug
Boelman, Lions Jeff Schlobohm, Jim Hennessey,
Garden.
Bob Anderson and Barry Haskins.
100% of Clubs Reporting Officers
I am delighted to tell you that with the diligent
help of 1st VDG and IT Chair Ed Shaeffer, our
district has 100% of its clubs reporting its officers.
I will be sending more in-depth information to the
club presidents and secretaries of several more
important events.
In Memoriam
WE ARE SORRY FOR THE LOSS OF
THESE OF DEDICATED LIONS:
Balltown — Rick J Klinkhammer NASHUA continued to collect and recycle
Blairstown — Wayne Newton eyeglasses.
Urbana — Hugo H Rammelsberg WAVERLY reported their collection of eyeglasses
Vinton — Charles Peterson and hearing aids throughout the year and their
cleanup on Waverly Rail Trail.
July/August 2020…THE IOWA LION…Page 11Something new on the horizon from LCI is NAMI
(North America Membership Initiative). It is a new
District 9MC idea that was hatched to motivate the members in
No District Governor
at this time Constitutional Areas 1 and 2 to work on new clubs,
member retention, and getting new members. Our
This month’s newsletter
GAT coordinators will be starting these programs on
prepared by
Past Council Chair Bill Pollard the multiple district and district levels in the coming
Altoona Lions Club months.
Iowa Lions Foundation needs you to make sure
that donations keep coming in as funds are limited for
At the time of writing our district is without a distribution. They realize that you are not able to get
district governor. We are fortunate to have had David your usual fundraising done as in the past, but please
Coates step up to be second vice district governor; do what you can to keep the need in check.
he will move up to fill the district governor chair in a
LCIF is also in need of your contributions. They
couple of years. If anyone would like to be considered
are doing great things with COVID-19 relief all over
for either district governor or first vice district
the world.
governor, please send me an email at
In Memoriam
billpollard54@yahoo.com to get the process started.
COVID-19 and What It’s
Doing to Our Clubs and Members Melvin (Bill) Raub — Dysart
Carl Zoffka — Garwin
I know clubs are starting to come together on the
William Henkle — Montezuma
internet. This is something all clubs need to take a
Frank Robeson — Newton
look at to keep our members up to date with what
Pat Robbins — South Des Moines
is happening. With so many social events being
canceled, we are all thirsting for human contact but we
can get things done without endangering ourselves. SERVICE ACTIVITIES
Maybe our founders had a different idea of what ALTOONA is taking delivery of four new memorial park
Lions are supposed to be doing or maybe it is still benches for placement at parks throughout the city with
good but needs to be revamped to work in today’s the Parks Department installing them when they arrive.
environment. This is a question we all need to be Pictures will follow after they are in place.
asking. BONDURANT canceled its 70th club anniversary
Some clubs are using Zoom (my personal choice), celebration due to COVID-19 and is to celebrate their
75th anniversary in 2024; donated $50 to the high school
some are Facetiming, some are just calling each other
art department’s annual calendar; is making preparations
to make sure their Lions are doing okay. We need to for the annual Tractor Ride on Aug. 1st and the annual
be brainstorming and coming up with new ideas. Take Cow Pasture Golf fundraiser for Sept. 13.
all ideas seriously because they can be adapted to
work if they don’t seem functional to begin with. So DYSART held first in-person meeting June 18; served
their famous tenderloins at the Park stand during the
keep kicking that around to make it work for you.
Dysart Car Show July 24.
Fundraising is another issue to be looked at.
Suggestions of a Go Fund Me page for funds for MONTEZUMA held its first indoor club meeting since
March on June 22 with a good turnout; donated $500
specific projects is an idea that is relatively new to to the Iowa Lions Foundation in spite of a fundraiser
our organization. A raffle might be another idea, but being canceled due to COVID-19; Lion William Henkle,
contact the Lion State Office for specifics required in a 41-year member of the club, passed away in early
the State of Iowa to have raffles. Run a food drive for June at age 91. His family donated $1,000 to the Lions
your local food pantry. I know they’re in need of food, Club in his memory, which will be used to acknowledge
more so now than in any time in the last 50 years. his longtime commitment to mowing and maintaining
Wayside Park with a memorial at the park.
If you’re fortunate enough to have large amounts of
money, now is the time for that to be given to the food SOUTH DES MOINES presented $250 scholarship to a
pantries to purchase additional food stuff. future Iowa State student.
July/August 2020…THE IOWA LION…Page 12Lions Repair Wayside Park Shelter
By Roger Allen
Montezuma Lions Club
About a dozen Montezuma Lions club members
and volunteers gathered at Wayside Park beside
Highway 63 on the south side of Montezuma on the
evening of June 8.
The purpose was to raise and reinforce sagging
corner posts of the park shelter and to repair and
replace deteriorated railings. Wayside Park has been
maintained by the Lions for many years, with annual
financial support from the Montezuma Mothers Club.
The park is located just north of the home of Randy
Simmons and his wife, Cedar. When asked if they
could supply water in case it was needed for cement
mixing, they jumped onboard as working volunteers.
The lumber cost about $200. Repairs were
completed in about three hours. This was due in part SUPPORT. Lion Jake Thompson holds while Lion Doug
to the use of tractors with end-loaders to temporarily Ver Meer does the drilling on a new brace board. Jake
lift the corners, and other creative engineering and became president of the Montezuma club July 1.
craftsmanship by the workers. Photos by Roger Allen
RAISING THE ROOF. An end-loader supports the roof while Lion Bill Schultz saws a board and other Lions work on
installing reinforcements for Wayside Park shelter along Highway 63 south of Montezuma.
July/August 2020…THE IOWA LION…Page 13In order to accomplish the goals and address needed
District 9EC change, the group identified things that need to be done
at each level in the district:
District Governor
Stan Stanfield 1. District Team
610 Danielle Ct. • Lead by example
Blue Grass, Iowa 52726
• Better communications, phone calls, and emails
563-381-5066
stan.stanfield68@gmail.com • Assist club leaders in direction to lead
• Visit clubs more, not just in the annual visits
Will you save the life of • District activities that all clubs can participate in
2. Regions & Zones Chairs
your club? Will you??? • Be active in your regions/zones
North America Membership Initiative • Better communications, phone calls and emails
We are on a journey to more service! This year • Let the district governor know when clubs need
our district is participating in the North America help
Membership Initiative (NAMI) to maximize our • Call clubs monthly
membership so we can maximize our service. Instead of
3. From Our Clubs
a top down approach like so many programs in the past,
this initiative starts from ideas from the club level to • Be more active in community
form the goals for the district. • Communicate in person, phone calls and emails
In February, an email was sent out to all the clubs • Think outside the box
inviting anyone who was interested to participate in
• Think of new projects
a workshop to develop district goals for 2020-2021.
A workshop was held on Feb. 29 with Lions from six • Grow your membership
clubs and four zones in attendance. The purpose of the The district team wants to work with clubs that
workshop was to develop the district’s 2020-2021 NAMI need assistance in these areas. We need your renewed
goals. I think it was wonderful to get a good group of commitment to succeed.
Lions in the same room to talk about things we can do to
Another area that was discussed at the workshop was
make our Lions clubs and district more effective in our
our Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats
communities. Out of this workshop the following goals
(SWOT). The results of our analysis is as follows:
were identified:
• Charter one new club in Anamosa 1. Most significant Strengths
• Bring the Durant Branch club to full Lions club • KidSight Screening/Vision
status
• Donations we make to our community
• Charter a branch club in Le Claire
• Rebuild the Maquoketa Lions Club • Community involvement
• Induct 120 new members into existing clubs • Lions working together as a team
• Lose no more than 80 members
2. Most Significant Weaknesses
I know those are ambitious goals while we are still in
the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, if we • Recruiting new members
are going to accomplish growing our clubs, adding new • Our members are aging
clubs and reducing the number of members leaving our • Getting younger people to join
clubs, we must have measurable goals to succeed.
• Members are reluctant to move into leadership
Some of the things we took away from the positions
workshop. We need to improve training at the
club, zone and region levels. We need to improve 3. Most significant Opportunities
communication between the clubs, zones, regions and • Starting Branch Clubs for younger members
district. We need to be open to new ideas and remember • Publicizing what we do in our community and the
that change is good. In order to encourage new members world
to join, we need to move forward.
July/August 2020…THE IOWA LION…Page 14• Technology and Social Media can improve pandemic?
communication Holding Club Meetings. We need to get back in the
• Reward members for their accomplishments swing of things. Holding meetings is a must now more
4. Most Significant Threats than ever and there are several ways to do that. You
can have a picnic in the park, meet in a pavilion, hold a
• Lack of member involvement Zoom meeting, or have a conference call.
• Key members leaving the club Fundraising. I have seen a of couple ideas on
• Priorities of families have changed (youth Facebook. One example is to hold a wine tasting party
traveling to sports, parents with more than 1 job) over Zoom from the convenience of your home. They
• Aging Clubs are told up front that this s a fundraiser for Lions and
they are asked to pay $20 to join. Each participant buys
Our members established good goals. In a future issue two or three different wines to taste. While on Zoom,
of The Iowa Lion, I will discuss developing an action you taste and evaluate the wine and you can also make
plan to implement the goals. recommendations on the food each wine would best be
Lions Club International has agreed to partner served with.
with us in adding new members to existing clubs and Community Support. One idea that can be done now
chartering new clubs in our district. LCI has waived is having a drive-by drop-off food drive. They advertise
the $35 one-time entrance fee for new and charter the locations and times when Lions will be at the drop-
members through Dec. 31, 2020. off sight and ask members of the community to bring
We need to take advantage of this opportunity by non-perishable items. This provides a safe environment
asking new members to join our clubs. We must do what for community members and our Lions. We need to
it takes to expand our service in our communities and share ideas with other clubs so we can continue to serve
with more Lions we can do that. our communities.
Will you help by leading your club on this journey I have no doubt that you will choose the meeting type
to greater service, increasing membership, retention that will be a safe environment and best meet the needs
and enhanced leadership opportunities? We need your of your club.
renewed commitment to succeed. Correction: The Fall Rally is scheduled for Saturday,
Some Thoughts on Nov.7, COVID-19 permitting. The location is yet to be
determined.
the COVID-19 Pandemic
Remember: November is the District 9EC Diabetes
How do clubs hold meetings, do fundraising activities Proclamation Month.
and provide support to our communities during the
NEW MEMBER AWARDS. Immediate Past District Governor Tony Hill and District Governor Stan Stanfield present
District 9EC New Member Awards to Olin Lions Club President Jamie Ketelson (left photo) and Mount Vernon Lions
Club members Jim Baty and 1st Vice District Governor Paul Fugate (right photo). See more awards on Page 26.
July/August 2020…THE IOWA LION…Page 15encourage everyone to check out the Lions Learning
District 9NW Center, which can be found under the Learn button
District Governor at the Lions Digital Ecosystem. These are free
Roger Curtis classes, usually lasting 30-60 minutes and can be
PO Box 133 done in your free time from any computer. You
Badger, Iowa 50516 will need your member number at first to set up a
515-408-7563 Lions Learning Center account (if you need help,
rcurtis@iowalions.org contact me, your club secretary, or the Iowa Lions
office in Ames, and we will help you). Also, take
Greetings 9NW Lions! advantage of the search feature on the Lions Clubs
I am excited and enthusiastic to serve as your International website to look up just about anything
district governor (DG) for 2020-2021. I have been on the website.
a member of the Badger Lions Club (north of Fort As you know, the annual Iowa Lions State
Dodge) since January 1999 and have served in Convention was canceled this year as well as
several officer positions. It’s a small town with a most district conventions, but you will have an
good club! I have big shoes to fill this year as my opportunity to learn and network at the upcoming
predecessor DG Dale Schoening did an excellent special Iowa Lions Convention on Saturday, Oct.
job serving the Lions in District 9NW. He will 10 in Marshalltown. More information can be found
still be working with the new clubs in Denison and on other pages of this issue of The Iowa Lion. We
Sioux City. Expect to hear more about that when really hope that this date will come true and that the
things go back to normal. coronavirus situation has eased sufficiently at that
As your new district governor, I am still looking time. Keep this date open!
for Lion leaders to join my team as zone chairs, first I encourage our members to get more involved
vice district governor (serve as DG in 2021-2022) with your clubs, your communities, your district
and second vice district governor (serve as DG in and, of course, make the world a better place for
2022-2023). Give me a call and let’s talk about everyone to live. I look forward to meeting many of
it! The most important qualification to be a vice you fellow Lions and clubs as the year progresses.
district governor is to have been a club president.
You can always reach out to me if interested or I agree with what PDG Dale said a year ago,
have questions. Every past district governor has “We have much to do this year. Let every Lion do
told me that it’s a great experience and that they their part in serving others and inviting others to
have no regrets. I am about to find out if this is true join us in doing so.” WE SERVE!
and I hope you will join me in this life-changing It’s time to connect with DG Roger Curtis!
experience!
Yes, we all know that people are reluctant to
One of my goals is to see positive growth in each meet the traditional way due to coronavirus related
club. I encourage every Lion to ask everyone to concerns, but it can be done safely. Maybe an
be a member. Just ask one! My guess is that your outdoor meeting. Maybe get together on Microsoft
town has less than 1% of its population as members Teams, Zoom or some other conference call
in your Lions Club so the market is wide open to platform. There are many ways!
invite others in your community. I recently created
a nice community brochure to give information Don’t let your club dwindle or fade away; now
about my city and also included information about it’s time to connect with DG Roger to keep the
Lions. Our club plans to hand this brochure to new flame alive and well. I am at your service and want
people that move into our town so they know about to meet with all of you in whatever way you think is
the world’s best kept secret. Would you like to see a best. Reach out to me at the contact information at
copy? Give me a call! the top of this page.
The DG position requires lots of learning. I Call today!
July/August 2020…THE IOWA LION…Page 162020-2021 District Convention
You might be asking, district convention talk
already? Yes, mark your Lions calendars for
March 27, 2021. That is when our district will be
celebrating what we have accomplished for the
year.
Currently, I plan to have it in Fort Dodge. I
encourage all members to attend. I plan to make
sure everyone will have fun!
If you are looking to grow your club, well,
getting your members to the district convention is
a step in the right direction. Let’s see how many
members we can get to come! Check back for more
details in the next few months.
NEW MEMBERS
Member Club Sponsor
Ray Bass Lehigh Doug Dellachiesa
Tina Collier-Duncan Rockwell City Jennifer Jenson-Roberts THE K-TEAM. Akron Lions Club’s KidSight screening
Erika Fuentes Sioux City Lee Chamberlain team, (L-R) Dee Watson, Bob Watson, Joan Coleman
(in front), Gloria Thorson and Julie Ford.
What Your Clubs Have Been Doing
CHURDAN delivered Meals on Wheels 5 days a week
every week, serving 150 people; awarded a scholarship
to a high school senior.
In Memoriam
Our sympathies to the family and friends of the Lions
FORT DODGE NOON held a food drive in the who have completed their service on earth.
community for the local food pantry. Member Club Years a Lion
Steve Springer Fort Dodge Noon 35
(Send me your activities and service projects to include
next month).
FOOD INITIATIVE. Roger Curtis and the Badger Lions Club partnered with the Fort Dodge Noon Lions Club to
purchase food with a Thrivent Community Impact gift card. Cliff and Nancy Weldon purchased a cart full of groceries
and supplies at the local grocery store. Any Thrivent Financial member can apply for funds twice a year up to $250.
July/August 2020…THE IOWA LION…Page 17believe in letting F.U.D. run my life, so I always look for a
District 9SE way to surf to show the way for others to follow. Uncertainty
comes because of change. We must embrace the change by
District Governor looking outside our box and status quo.
Bryan Bross
I want to encourage all the clubs of 9SE to bring certainty
1703 Grube St. to your club meetings by embracing a virtual meeting format.
Burlington, Iowa 52601 Use tools like Microsoft Teams (see my July newsletter),
319-572-4132 Zoom, Google Meet, FreeConferenceCall.com or whatever
bcbross@gmail.com you like. Find a tech savvy person in your club (or a friend in
the community that you could ask to be a Lion) and have them
2020 has been a year to remember and one we all wish we set it up.
could forget. It seems that everything has been canceled. All Will you get it right the first time? No. Will there be bumps
this is due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There! I said it, but I in the road? Yes. Should you give up? No. Will you get better
do not like to mention it since it brings to mind all the things with practice? Yes. I am not aware of what all other clubs are
we have had to cancel. In another sense, I think that giving it a doing. Burlington Host normally meets at noon weekly, but
name gives it some place in my life and I just want to get back we have only had a few meetings virtually. I think that will
to normal. So, I will just refer to it as the “pandemic” going increase in the coming months. The Victor club tried Zoom.
forward since that seems vague and nonspecific. It seemed to work well enough for the first time, but they are
There is an old saying going to try again for the next meeting. Iowa City Host is
that when you have lemons meeting as a club twice a month plus one board meeting all in
you should make lemonade. Zoom, and it sounds like it is going well. I would like to hear
That is just what we need in from others about how it is going. Maybe your club meeting
these dog days of summer. schedule and time needs to change to accommodate members.
The pandemic has brought Your District
us challenges (lemons) and Governor Team and
opportunities (lemonade). We have been social distancing district cabinet have
and wearing face masks. We have missed out on seeing our met once already
loved ones in nursing homes and in the hospital. In the case of virtually and we
those that have passed, we are still awaiting a funeral. This is plan to do so again
heartbreaking to say the least. the end of July. I
Besides the personal challenges, we have experienced have participated in
serious challenges to how we plan, prepare and deliver service numerous Multiple
to our communities. It has strained our ability to meet in District 9 and
person. In some cases, I fear this has been a serious detriment Constitutional Area 1 meetings virtually. I even completed my
to the survival of some Lions clubs focused more on meetings district governor training and was sworn in by International
and fundraisers than service. The worst thing about the whole President Dr. Jung-Yul Choi in a global virtual simulcast.
situation is the uncertainty. I believe we can expect significant Past District Governor Debbie Doty has been conducting
uncertainty over the next twelve months if we try to do things zone chair training virtually for the last few weeks, and we
like we have always done them expecting the same results. intend to conduct officer training for presidents, secretaries
Therein lies the opportunity. Some have said that this and treasurers virtually very soon. All of this will be posted to
pandemic will have caused humanity to leap forward five our District 9SE YouTube channel. We also are posting things
years technologically in the next twelve to eighteen months. to our 9SE Facebook page. Please subscribe to our YouTube
At my place of business, we have been channel and like our Facebook page. Besides the social media
embracing the virtual meetings more component, we will also send out emails as appropriate.
than ever and harnessing the power Please note that our District Governor Team, including 1st
of the “cloud” for virtualization of Vice DG Nancy Oehler Love and 2nd Vice DG Brenda Axtell
our computers, servers and telephone will be reaching out to you very soon to schedule a club visit.
system. The way I see it, we need to We split these up on a rotation so one person is not going to
identify that wave crashing in and everything. We always like to hear from the clubs regarding
determine to get our surf boards out to what service projects you have going on. Please reach out
ride it into the safety of the shoreline. and invite us via email or telephone. We can conduct officer
If we do not ride the inductions, new member initiations, or simply meet and greet
wave, we may be stranded at sea for years to the club entirely virtually if your club is not meeting in person.
come. However, all this upheaval brings fear, We would be glad to assist or facilitate the virtual meetings as
uncertainty, and doubt (F.U.D.) that stresses well.
some folks out. Thus, we must be patient to
I have some great news to report. As of July 13, we have
show grace as we bring them along. I do not
July/August 2020…THE IOWA LION…Page 18two new members and only one dropped member so far this PDG Debbie Doty for more information for your community.
year. Our district goal is to have a net increase of at least one, Besides the behind the scenes leadership like giving, please
at least 100 total new members, no more than 100 dropped consider stepping into a leadership role in your club as vice
members, and at least one new club. We will be continuing president or service chair. We have over forty volunteers in
with the North America Membership Initiative (NAMI), which our district cabinet this year and that helps us get a lot of work
is a strategic planning process to reverse our declining growth done. We are still looking for zone chairs for Zones 6 and 7.
trend. The foundations we lay this year in training for officers, The only requirement is that you have been a club president.
zone chairs, and Guiding Lions will support our long-term We also need a diabetes chair, and we have a great opportunity
efforts to increase the number of clubs in our district. in that our district convention will be in Burlington on Nov.
It is my firm belief that membership comes through service 14, which is World Diabetes Awareness Day.
when we ask friends and acquaintances to join us in a service Please do not let that voice of F.U.D. tell you that you are
project. They catch the spirit of service and a light comes on in too busy or are not good enough or do not know enough. I find
them that says, “I want to be a part of that.” Thus, a new Lions I learn by jumping in and doing. Nobody expects perfection,
member is born. but never trying is worse than trying and failing. This is
We all joined Lions for different reasons. Some catch the because when you fail you now know what did not work and
service spirit early, but for others it takes some time. I recall you have a new opportunity to learn how to do it better next
sitting at lunch time.
with International Thomas Edison said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found
First Vice 10,000 ways that won’t work. Many of life’s failures are
President Douglas people who did not realize how close they were to success
Alexander from when they gave up.”
New York. He
recounted the Join me in “Digging Deeper” to serve our communities
time when as as WE SERVE “United in Diversity and Kindness.” The
a Lion he took communities in our district need you.
groceries for a Please remember to report your service in MyLion. Work
Thanksgiving Enjoying lunch together at DGE Training with your club secretary or service chair to provide the details
meal to the home at St. Charles, Illinois, in February are of any service you performed individually or as a club.
of a needy family. Past International Director Ed Farrington,
DGE Bryan Bross, PID Steve Glass and
He recounted
International 1st VP Douglas Alexander. CLUB SERVICE ACTIVITIES
how he saw the
tears of joy in their eyes as they gladly and graciously received for May and June
the gift from Lions. He said, “That is when I truly became a CORYDON picked up and recycled metal.
Lion.” GRANDVIEW-LETTS served food and lemonade.
I hope that everyone reading this article can reflect on those IOWA CITY HOST transported eye tissue to the Iowa Eye
times in your lives. I pray if you have not yet experienced that Bank.
feeling of “becoming a Lion,” you will organize or volunteer
KEOKUK delivered Meals On Wheels.
in more service projects in order to catch the spirit and share it
with other prospective members. LONE TREE donated books about diabetes to the school
library; placed flags around Lone Tree for Flag Day.
If you have caught the spirit of service as I have, I
challenge you to step into leadership roles. If we honestly NEW LONDON picked up and delivered blood from a blood
believe the slogan, “Where there is a need, there is a Lion,” drive.
then you must understand that we need more leaders in order OSKALOOSA delivered books to the homebound;
to increase our capacity to serve our communities. delivered May baskets to staff at Crystal Heights Nursing
Home.
Leadership can come in many forms, but please do not
wait to be asked. One way to lead is to give back to Lions SOLON CENTENNIAL cleaned up the Mushroom Park
Club International Foundation. If every member would Gazebo.
commit $100 per year, can you imagine the level of service
and assistance we could accomplish globally? Even $25 per
year (the cost of a large supreme pizza) is a step in the right Welcome New Members
direction. LCIF has given over $4 million back around the Gwen E. Devaul – Wayland
world to help keep people safe during this pandemic. Lindsey S. Pogmore – Winfield
That reminds me of some other good news. Our district Travis D. Pogmore - Winfield
received a $10,000 grant from LCIF to provide meals to
hospital, clinic and nursing home workers as they service Deceased Members
patients in the counties worst-hit by the pandemic. Contact Craig Olson — Pella
July/August 2020…THE IOWA LION…Page 19You can also read
